This is the second in a series of articles on understanding thermal ticket printing and determining if it’s right for you.
<< Part 1 on Event Printing Options | Part 3 Options for Thermal Ticket Stock >>
What They Are and How To Maintain Them
Understanding how thermal ticket printers operate and the maintenance costs involved will help you make and informed decision on your thermal printer purchase. For this guide, we’ll discuss two types of thermal printers and considerations on the proper care of your printer.
Direct Thermal Printers
Direct thermal printers are the most commonly used ticket printers on the market. These printers do not require toner or ink cartridges, and instead produce a printed image by selectively heating specially coated thermal paper. The ticket stock is heated through the printhead which generates heat in the shape or pattern provided, turning the paper black when the thermal coating reacts with the heating element.
The majority of standard thermal printers are able to handle 200dpi and 300dpi printing resolutions. A printer’s dpi (dots per inch) refers to how many dots per inch they are able to print. Printers with a higher dpi will print images and text more clearly. Some manufactures offer 600dpi printers which can print highly detailed images and graphics. Print speed for these printers is considerably lower than lower dpi printers, so 600dpi thermal printers are not recommended in high volume environments.
A thermal printer’s speed is measured in ips (inches per second). Most standard thermal printers operate at a speed of 8ips, but some models are able to handle faster speeds. The faster the stock passes through the printer, the less time the printhead has to heat and activate the stock, resulting in print degradation. Advanced thermal printers allow the user to control both the heat level of the printhead and the speed of the printer.
The majority of printers have optional cutters available, which enable your stock to be cut after each individual ticket is printed. Thermal printers are equipped with an optical reader used to read the black marks printed on the back of the stock, which help the printer determine the beginning and end of the ticket. The size and position of the black mark will depend on the printer model and manufacturer.
Thermal Transfer Printers
A thermal transfer printer operates with the same basic printing principle as a direct thermal printer. However, the printer does not print directly on the ticket stock, but rather melts a coating of thermal transfer ribbon onto the paper’s surface.
Thermal transfer printers do not require thermal coated stock, as the transfer ribbon adheres to a variety of paper textures and plastic substrates. This process can be used to print on the non-coated back of your thermal ticket stock, enabling you to easily customize your tickets. Since ticket backs are often reserved for paid advertising, the flexibility of changing advertisers frees you from the commitment of ordering large quantities of pre-printed stock with a single advertiser. Transfer ribbons are sold in customizable rolls, prices depend on color, material, and length of the roll.
Maintenance
The average life of a printhead is approximately 2.4 million inches, but will vary depending on factors such as humidity, dust, heat, moisture and lack of proper maintenance procedures. Routine cleaning will extend the life of your printhead and maintain optimal print quality. Many printer manufacturers offer annual maintenance plans that can help cover parts and printer repairs. A standard printer warranty covers your printer for one year after the purchase date.
Replacement of thermal printer parts can be costly, so understanding how to care for your printer and performing routine maintenance will save money. The following is a list of items that add to the print head’s wear and tear:
- Abrasion: the process of wearing down the printhead through friction caused by the passing thermal stock. A print head’s protective coating will eventually wear off due to normal use, regardless of maintenance and printing conditions.
- Corrosion: a gradual deterioration of the print head will occur because of inferior media, incorrect cleaning agents and the environment.
- Contamination: particles such as dust and dirt can damage the printhead.
- Moisture: humid or damp environments will drastically reduce printhead life.
- Residue: Inferior thermal stock, incorrect cleaning agents, and security foils will cause buildup over time, which will affect print quality.
- Dead Pixels: refer to sections on the print head that no longer heat up, causing the printer to no longer print on the affected areas.
Routine Printer Maintenance will extend the life & improve print quality:
- Cleaning frequency will depend on the type of printer, environment, and print volume. For moderate daily use, thermal printers should be cleaned two to three times per week, and daily if your stock is heavily used on coated paper or with color or security foils.
- Extreme caution should be taken when cleaning your print heads. All jewelry and sharp objects should be removed prior to working on your printer to prevent accidental damage. A scratched print head is impossible to repair and will mar the results of your printed ticket.
- Only approved cleaning solutions such as Isopropyl Alcohol should be used, as these type of solvents evaporate quickly without leaving residue.
- Thermal cleaning swabs are readily available, and come pre-dipped in alcohol. Swabs are easy to use and can access most hard to reach parts. Gently rub the printhead and rollers with the swab until all visible residue disappears.
- Compressed-Air dusters can effectively remove dust and large particles from the printer.
Following basic maintenance procedures for standard thermal printers will extend the life of your printer. Please refer to your printer’s user manual for further and more detail instructions and recommendations.
Consider your print needs, options for advertising, and costs before purchasing your thermal printer. With proper maintenance, your venue will maximize the life of your printer and the return of your investment.
